Hello all,

Recently acquired a Flighter 61, but can't seem to figure out the filling system. I had expected either just cartridge fill or an aerometric fill, but found something different. Feed is attached to a plastic-over-metal "cartridge". I can't figure out how it fills, and i can't remove it by hand (didn't want to put too much force into it until i knew more...) to replace with a modern converter.

Any and all thoughts and advice appreciated...

Mark

Hi,

Can you post a picture? Could it be an original capilliary filler, although they don't have metal in them as far as I know.

Andy

It sounds like you have a common Parker 61 and not one of the cartridge/convertor 61s that came from England...
You DO NOT remove the filler unit on this pen...
Below is a copy from Richard Binder's Filling systems page on his website
Cleaning this filling system can be a PIA, but it just takes some time and effort... the pens are generally very nice writers....
Here is a link about cleaning the pen
61 Cleaning


"Parker 61. Design: Capillary action. An internal reservoir (the capillary cell) contains a sheet of plastic that has been perforated, embossed with a 3-D pattern resembling safety tread, and rolled up. The holes allow ink to ooze between the rolled-up layers, and the embossed pattern maintains space between the layers. In the center, running the entire length of the capillary cell, is the feed. The cell’s housing is metal, with a Teflon coating to repel ink easily. When the pen is not being filled, a spring-loaded valve in the back end of the barrel seals the end of the cell.
Filler schematic "

OldGriz,

Thank you, that appears to be what i have. Believe i've got the system cleaned out now...but how do i fill? Must admit, this is my first exposure to this type of filler. Vacumatics, pistons, aeromatics, crescent and lever fills i get...but this one, no. Any advice nuch appreciated.

Mark

It sounds like you have a common Parker 61 and not one of the cartridge/convertor 61s that came from England...
You DO NOT remove the filler unit on this pen...
Below is a copy from Richard Binder's Filling systems page on his website
Cleaning this filling system can be a PIA, but it just takes some time and effort... the pens are generally very nice writers....
Here is a link about cleaning the pen
61 Cleaning


"Parker 61. Design: Capillary action. An internal reservoir (the capillary cell) contains a sheet of plastic that has been perforated, embossed with a 3-D pattern resembling safety tread, and rolled up. The holes allow ink to ooze between the rolled-up layers, and the embossed pattern maintains space between the layers. In the center, running the entire length of the capillary cell, is the feed. The cell’s housing is metal, with a Teflon coating to repel ink easily. When the pen is not being filled, a spring-loaded valve in the back end of the barrel seals the end of the cell.
Filler schematic "
[/quote]

Mark,
There is the official way, and there is a messy way.

The official way is to unscrew the barrel, and put the metal tube down into the ink for 30 seconds, pull it out, wipe it, replace the barrel and write.

Unfortunately that doesn't work with my one as the capilliary filler has hydrophobic felt. So I do it the messy way. Take the barrel off, put the nib in the ink , your mouth over the capilliary filler and suck. Stop before ink gets into your mouth (you can sometimes feel a temperature change in the filler to show the ink level), or you will have a most disturbing smile for a while. I tend to use Turquoise ink, and my youngest daughter doesn't have nightmares about me anymore... well, not about a turquoise stained grin, at least.

Regards

Richard.